“Nothing but a little time and money, I suppose. The bets get heavy in these kinds of events.”
“I’ve been known to take a bet or two.” He glanced again at Taylor, his eyebrows pinched together. “So that sister of yours…got a feeling I might know her. Where you girls from?”
“The New York/New Jersey area.” She waved at Taylor, indicating she should come out and talk to the guy herself. Taylor shook her head, clearly not in agreement. “What about you? Where did you attend college?”
“Penn State. But that was a long time ago.”
“So did she!”
“Taylor….” Again his eyes turned in her direction. “It can’t be. Not Taylor Holmes?” He grinned and his eyes lit up. “Is that your sister?”
Kayla nodded and he stood up, spreading his arms wide. Taylor blushed and gave him a tentative wave, then rushed out of the kitchen. He enfolded her in a big hug. “Jack Warner. How the hell are you?” She stepped back from his embrace. “You look….pretty good, I guess.”
She knew she was blushing and stammering, but it wasn’t everyday that the guy who popped your cork and stamped on your heart stood before you, even more beautiful now than he was ten years ago.
“I guess?” Kayla laughed.
Taylor ducked her head. There had never been a more handsome man, or one as charming, as Jack Warner. He’d been born with that silver spoon in his mouth, and reaped the rewards.
She’d been an innocent nineteen-year-old when she’d first met him. They had dated for three whole months and he’d taught her a lot—mostly in the bedroom. He’d been a gentle and patient lover. But along came cheerleader number two. Then three. More notches in his belt.
She should hate him, but she didn’t. He’d been her first lover—and the best. Taylor had never loved him, but when she’d been his girl it was like being with a rock star. An exciting, wonderful time when she’d felt privileged to be his chosen one. He was a prince among men. Star basketball player. On the Dean’s list. A great debater and a better dancer—with plenty of moves. She’d never expected their romance to last, so wasn’t surprised that it didn’t. It was a fling, and she’d been totally into it too.
When it was over she’d carried the afterglow for weeks—knowing that a man like Jack Warner had picked her as a bedmate.
Since him, she’d only slept with two other men and neither one of them had lit any fires. She’d lived with her last boyfriend for two years, and never came close to a big “o”. Jack had been the one and only man.
“Look at you! More beautiful than ever.” He gave her a dazzling smile and put his warm hand on her shoulder. “What brought you down to the Keys?”
“My step-dad passed away eighteen months ago, and he’d bought the Paradise Resort cottages as his retirement plan. He left it to my sisters and I. Mom’s here too.”
“You like living on this little island?” He glanced from Kayla back to her. “I’m sure I’d get bored to tears.”
“Couldn’t be happier.” Taylor tilted her head to glance up at him, taking in his sultry good looks. Damn if he didn’t look like a Hollywood heartthrob. “So what about you? Married? Divorced? Here for the Film Festival? Gay Pride?”
He chuckled. “None of the above. Sailfish tournament. Remember Joey Hammond? He’s a big sports fisherman and invited me down. Since I had some business in Miami, I decided to combine the two.”
“Great. Say “hi” for me.” She shivered as his hand slid down her bare arm, stopping at her wrist. “So what are you doing now?” She squeaked. “Did you join your dad’s law firm?”
“I did. Made partner two years ago.”
“Wow.” She nodded and looked at Kayla, wanting to get back to the kitchen. “Cool.” She stepped back.
“So can you get away for a night?” He tugged her forward. “Come down to the Keys with me.”
“No way. I’m a working girl. Got two businesses to run.” Taylor was glad for an excuse, as she knew he could be persuasive and didn’t have any inclination to go there again. It was nice to see him and show him how well she’d done for herself, but spending a night admiring his good looks? No thanks. She freed her wrist from his seductive grasp.
Taylor turned when she heard the front door open, relieved to see Colt with Jamie and Raul. “Hey,” she smiled brightly at the three of them. “Take a table. I’ll be with you in a minute.”
“I know you’re busy,” Jack said as she began to move away. “But can I get your number? I might come back for a few nights before heading home.”
She hesitated for the briefest of seconds, but the warmth in his eyes turned her stomach to mush. What could dinner hurt? “Sure.” She scribbled it down on her notepad and handed it to him. “Good luck in the tournament. It’s been great seeing you again.”
“And you.” Jack leaned down to whisper in her ear. “You’ve turned into a stunning woman, but I remember plenty about you as a young girl.”
She laughed and tossed her hair, almost light-headed by his attention. And the fact that Colt was watching. “Right,” she whispered in an aside. “I was just one in the long parade.”
“Quantity, not quality.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I’ve learned a few things over the years. I wouldn’t go back and change them, but I sure wouldn’t repeat them either.”
“Stop with the charm.” She folded her arms under her breasts and saw his eyes drop to her cleavage. “Take a table, Jack, and tell me what you’d like for lunch. I can’t stand around all day flirting with you. I have customers.” Finally, she added silently. It would have been terribly embarrassing if he’d shown up earlier.
“I’ll take a crab cake sandwich. Fries on the side.” He pulled his iPhone out of his pocket. “Hang on a sec.” He sighed and shook his head. “Dammit. Just got a business text. I’ll have to forget the lunch, I’m afraid. This is going to take more than a few minutes.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Over Jack’s shoulder, she could see Colt. His damp hair was curling around his nape, as if he’d just gotten out of the shower.
“Let’s set something up. How about dinner on Sunday? You’ve got to eat, right? I’ll pick you up at seven.”
On Sunday? She couldn’t think of a reason to refuse, try as she might. “Yeah. Okay.” She shot a glance toward Colt and the boys. “Maybe. Call me.”
“I’ll do that, but I’m not taking no for an answer.” Jack gave Kayla a jaunty wave and then let himself out.
Kayla raised a questioning brow. Taylor shrugged, non-committal, then sauntered over to the table with her favorite three boys. “Hey, guys. Glad you came for lunch. How was camp today?”
“Good.” Raul removed his cap and grinned. “I had a home run.”
Juanita had left the kitchen in time to hear her son’s news. She ruffled his hair with pride. “Good boy,” she said. “Your daddy will be proud.”
“And I pitched three people out,” Jamie said, glancing at his father.
“Well done, son,” Colt responded, then his eyes met hers. “Who was that?”
“You mean the guy that just left?” She watched Juanita mumble something to Raul and give him a nudge. The boy stood and headed toward the bathroom in the back, probably to wash up.
“Who else would I mean?”
She shifted her gaze back to Colt and ran her damp palms over the soft material of her skirt. She rarely saw him angry or heard him raise his voice, but by the set of his jaw, his flashing blue eyes, she knew he was pissed.
“Why?”
Colt picked up the salt shaker and moved it around the table. He wouldn’t look at her, and she wondered what crawled up his ass. “It’s just a question. You don’t want to answer it, fine.”
She didn’t like his tone of voice or the look on his face. Wasn’t like she’d done anything wrong. She hadn’t been flirting, nor had she accepted a date—and even if she had, why should he care?
“He’s not important,” she finally answered. “Just someone I knew a lifetime ago.” S
he shrugged her shoulders. “It was quite a surprise seeing him here.”
“You gave him your number?” He stopped playing with the salt shaker, and leaned back in the chair. His eyes were a deep turbulent blue, like an angry ocean.
“I did.” She shifted her feet, and felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “So what?”
“I thought you didn’t have time to date.”
Juanita brought Raul back to the table then left. The boy took the seat next to Jamie—his big eyes were on her, as if he could sense the friction in the air.
She smiled at Raul, and bit back an angry retort to Colt’s stinging comment. This conversation was going in a bad direction, and she didn’t want to say anything she’d later regret, or to push any buttons.
“I don’t,” Taylor said pleasantly, eager to make light of it. “It’s not exactly a date. We’re just going to catch up on old times.” She crossed her arms around her middle, wondering why she felt so damn defensive. It was none of his business who she went out with. Did she ask him about his dates?
“Right.” His eyes glittered. “Where?”
“I have no idea.” Angry now, she asked, “Does it matter?” Seeing Jack had given her spirit a much needed jolt—like a double shot of good tequila.
Colt was doing everything he could to ruin her happy mood. Why was he being such a prick? What was it to him if she spent a few hours with an old friend? Did she question every moment he spent with all the girls in town? Hardly. She wouldn’t even want to know.
“It does to me.” Colt drummed his thumb along the table.
“What’s the matter, Dad?” Jamie glanced from one angry face to another. “I’m hungry. Can’t we just eat?”
“Yeah. We can eat,” he snapped. “Brought the boys in here because I was afraid you might not have any business. Looks to me like you’re doing just fine.”
“I am. You don’t need to worry about me.” She turned her attention to the boys. “How about fish and chips, or a chili dog?” Taylor had made up a limited menu for children, but she could improvise when necessary.
“Fish and chips,” Jamie said, and Raul quickly agreed.
“And for you?” she asked Colt, seething underneath her too-polite tone. He had some nerve! Guy was getting laid every day of the week, and he resented her seeing someone for one night. One night! Well, she just might make damn sure that one night was a good one. After all, didn’t she deserve a little fun under the covers, as much as the next guy? Or girl. Hell, yeah!
His steely blue eyes slid up and down the length of her—almost as if he were seeing her for the very first time. His jaw worked, and his hands were clasped tightly on the table. “I’ll have the same, and a beer. Boys, you want a soda?”
“Sure. Coke, please, Taylor.” Jamie shot his father a funny look. “What are you so grumpy about? You were in a good mood when we came in.”
“Just adult stuff. Nothing to worry about.” His eyes flickered to hers and she felt her toes curl, and a ton of feelings flooded her senses. What was going on? This was Colton Travis. Buddy. A man she adored, like she would an older brother.
There was an awareness in Colt’s eyes that she hadn’t seen before. He was looking at her like he wanted…wanted…to do things with her that he did to every other damn girl in town. And something else. There was a possessiveness that didn’t belong on his sweet face. Not for her. Not for them.
CHAPTER THREE
Colt had watched the fancy dude with his gold Rolex, Italian loafers and elegantly styled slicked-back hair as he flirted with Taylor, and had wanted to rearrange a few features on his arrogant face.
The Taylor he knew would never be interested in a guy like that. He shouted money, privilege, and trust fund, like it was stamped with a pedigree seal on his forehead. Colt knew plenty of women who’d be all over that, including his ex-wife, mother, and sister—but Taylor and her family were different. They didn’t care about material things. Sure, they worked hard and wanted their resort to succeed, but they drove an old SUV, shared a two bedroom cottage, didn’t wear fancy clothes or visit places where they needed designer logos or diamonds. All their money and efforts were poured into making their step-dad’s dream and legacy a sustaining and profitable venture. It was not material greed that drove them, only a love for each other, and for Paradise Cove.
He didn’t want to believe otherwise, but he’d seen the way Taylor had flirted with the rich dude. She didn’t date the local guys, yet she had handed Mr. Wall Street her number. God damn it! How dare she do that—in front of him, no less. He’d seen the way Taylor’s skin flushed when the dude whispered something in her ear. That unconscious bodily betrayal had all but killed him. He—Colt Travis—was the man who made her blush and stammer.
Not often enough, it seemed. If she was ready for a good time, why the hell hadn’t she let him know? What were friends for? She could trust him with that. If she needed to get laid, if she needed a kiss, a cuddle, someone to hold her at night. Hell, he was the man for the job. Not some jackass with a big expense account and a sleek Jaguar that probably compensated for his small dick.
The more he thought about it, the more his stomach churned. Acid indigestion rose in his throat, and he damn near choked on it. He tossed his napkin on the table, and stood up. “Finish up boys. I just need to have a word with Taylor, then off we go.”
He went through the door with the hanging beads that led directly to the kitchen. Juanita looked up from the bowl of soup she was plating. “Colt? Anything wrong?”
Kayla’s gaze fell on him. She shook her head. “Sheesh, Colt. What’s got you all hot and bothered?”
He gave her a sharp look but didn’t answer. He took Taylor by the elbow and steered her out the back door toward the picnic table under the thatched roof. “Sit.”
“I don’t want to sit. What the hell is going on with you?” She put her hands on her hips akimbo style. Her chest was heaving, and the rise and fall of her breasts got his attention.
“I have work to do. No time to sit around and stroke your ego.” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you pissed because some guy took an interest in me? Is it that strange that someone might actually find me attractive? Interesting?”
“No, not at all. You’re a beautiful woman. All three of you. Four, including your mother. That’s not it, and you darn well know it.” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and heaved a weary sigh. “Just not with the likes of him. You want to date someone, why not one of the local guys? That fellow’s got heartache written all over him. He’d use you, and leave you flat, no questions asked.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Jack’s not a stranger. I went out with him in college. We’re old friends. That’s all.”
Colt had hitched his butt on the table, now he shot forward, grabbing her by the hips. “You slept with him? You want to again?”
“How dare you ask me that!” Her chin jutted. “What’s it to you?”
He pulled her forward until his face was inches from hers. Her breasts crushed against his chest and he sensed her fear. Why would she be frightened of him? She had to know that he would never, ever hurt her. He only wanted to make sure she was happy, satisfied and well taken care of.
She trembled.
Colt breathed in her scent and his engines fired up. Did she think for one minute that she could date Mr. Rich Guy and not pay a price? Guys like him took what they wanted and didn’t look back. He should know. He was one of them.
But not with her. Never with her.
Tugging her close, he moved his hips suggestively against hers. “If this is what you want, then I’m the one to give it to you. Not that guy. Me.” He looked down at her mouth, wanting to taste it so fiercely, he got hard. “I care about you, Tay.”
“Get off me!” She shoved at his chest, and he let her go. “How dare you?” Her hazel eyes sparked with anger.
“I only want to save you from making a big mistake.” He patted his chest. “I wouldn’t hurt you. But that guy? He’ll strip away your
resistance one stroke at a time.” He made his tone sensual, wanting her to feel what he felt.
His plan back-fired. “And what makes you think I might not like that?” She tossed him an icy glare. “Besides, why should I be any different than you? How many women did you sleep with this week?” With that she turned and raced back inside.
* * *
It was closing time and most of the customers had left. One table of four women lingered over their coffees while sharing a chocolate cheesecake dessert. Taylor’s emotions went from high to low, but kept coming back to the way Colt had bumped his hips to hers as if she’d just fall backward and let him in.
“What was that all about? You and Colt?” Kayla asked, pouring three iced teas. She handed an icy glass to her, and another to Juanita, then stood back and sipped on her own.
“He’s an idiot. That’s what!” Taylor tossed back her lemony tea, and ice splashed down her sleeveless coral blouse. She swiped at it with a hand towel, which just made the splotch bigger. “He’s mad at me for giving my number to Jack. Why should he care who I date?”
“He’s jealous. You know he’s got a crush on you.” Kayla took the towel from Taylor and folded it on the counter.
“No, he doesn’t. That’s ridiculous.” It had to be a joke. “He’s got tons of girlfriends, and is definitely not lying around pining for me.” She turned her eyes on Juanita. “Isn’t that right?”
Juanita made a clucking sound. “Not so, Taylor. Why do you think he hangs around? You think it’s your fancy cooking? No! He’s waiting for the go ahead.” She took the leftovers out of the fridge and began dividing them up into stacks so they could each take some home. Having grown up in a country that never had enough, she didn’t want anything to go to waste. “That boy is crazy about you.”
“You are both crazy.” Panic was building inside, making it impossible to swallow. “We’re buddies, nothing more.”
Anna entered from the back entrance, wheeling a stroller. “What? Having a tea break?” She glanced at the three faces. “What happened?” Her eyes met Taylor’s with concern. “Bad day, hon?”
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